Philadelphia Inquirer, September 12, 1888View transcription
ENGINES IN COLLISION.
Three Men Hurt Owing to a Switch Carelessly Left Open.
Frederick H. Kuebler, brakeman, aged 21, of No. 1103 Baring street, Camden; Matthew Stephens, aged 23, of No. 1714 Selfridge street, and Daniel Collins, brakeman, aged 24, of No. 1502 Wharton street, were injured about 4 A. M. yesterday by the collision of two Pennsylvania Railroad engines, one drawing a train and the other a tender only, which came together in consequence of a misplaced switch. The side-tracked cars had been switched off into a yard belonging to the premises occupied by Councilman Ardis on the east side of Swanson street, below Tasker. The police say there was no one at the switch. The side-tracked engine had begun to pull out of the yard when engine No. 968, running with only a tender, came backing southward. It was too dark to see the switch, and engine 968 was running too fast to stop, and a crash followed. The bumper was of oak as thick as a railroad tie, and it snapped like a match.
The crew of 968 took the injured men to Washington avenue, where a patrol wagon took Kuebler and Coleman to the Pennsylvania Hospital and Stephens to his home.
Three Men Hurt Owing to a Switch Carelessly Left Open
Frederick H. Kuebler, brakeman, aged 21, of No. 1103 Baring street, Camden; Matthew Stephens, aged 23, of No. 1714 Selfridge street, and Daniel Collins, brakeman, aged 24, of No. 1502 Wharton street, were injured about 4 A. M. yesterday by the collision of two Pennsylvania Railroad engines, one drawing a train and the other a tender only, which came together in consequence of a misplaced switch. The side-tracked cars had been switched off into a yard belonging to the premises occupied by Councilman Ardis on the east side of Swanson street, below Tasker. The police say there was no one at the switch. The side-tracked engine had begun to pull out of the yard when engine No. 968, running with only a tender, came backing southward. It was too dark to see the switch, and engine 968 was running too fast to stop, and a crash followed. The bumper was of oak as thick as a railroad tie, and it snapped like a match.
The crew of 968 took the injured men to Washington avenue, where a patrol wagon took Kuebler and Coleman to the Pennsylvania Hospital and Stephens to his home.
